[ [link removed] ]Will you sign the petition calling on state leaders to reject
Oklahoma's unconstitutional public school Bible mandate?

Dear MoveOn member, 

On Thursday, Oklahoma's far-right and extreme State Superintendent Ryan
Walters shockingly announced that he would require the Bible to be taught
in fifth through 12th grades, a clear violation of students' freedom of
religion. He even suggested providing a uniform curriculum to direct how
educators incorporate the Bible into their classrooms.^1 This is right out
of the Christian nationalist playbook and, if enforced in Oklahoma, could
signal other far-right extremists to pass similar requirements in states
across the country.

There's nothing wrong with teaching a religious text as part of history
and culture. But forcing students of diverse faiths and religions to learn
one specific religious text and not any others is wrong. Oklahoma's recent
Bible mandate is part of a growing Christian nationalist movement to break
down the walls separating church and state. And public schools—not just in
Oklahoma but across the country—are ground zero. We can't let that happen.

[ [link removed] ]Add your name to demand Oklahoma state leaders, educators, and school
districts reject this unconstitutional public school Bible mandate!

Oklahoma's Bible mandate violates the religious freedom of children and
families across the state. We have to stop it from going into effect!

[3]Sign the petition

Last year, Oklahoma officials tried to approve a publicly funded religious
charter school, which would have been the first in the country. Just last
week, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled against it, but it's likely to be
appealed.^2 This Bible mandate is just the beginning, and we have to make
sure leaders know that we are ready to fight to protect religious
pluralism essential to our democratic freedom and values.

[ [link removed] ]The fight for religious freedom—as well as freedom from religion—is
taking place right now in Oklahoma. Sign the petition to urge state
leaders to reject Superintendent Walters' Bible mandate NOW and commit to
upholding the rights of children and families!

Superintendent Walters ran—and won—on a platform denouncing "woke
ideology" and promoting book bans, so it's ironic but no surprise that he
has continued pushing an extremist agenda by mandating the Bible in public
schools across the state. This is the same superintendent who has been
vehemently opposed to critical race theory in schools, sparking outrage
when he implied that the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, where white people in
Oklahoma killed 300 Black people, was not due to racism.^3

His announcement follows just days after Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry
signed a state law requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in public
school classrooms. Similar bills were introduced in Mississippi and West
Virginia, and one was passed in Arizona that would allow–not
require—teachers to display the Ten Commandments.^4 This is clearly part
of a coordinated conservative playbook to take control of our public
schools, undermine public education, and push an extreme Christian
nationalist agenda nationwide. We have to stop it in its tracks.

[ [link removed] ]Add your name to the petition now and fight back against Oklahoma's
latest attack against religious freedom.

Thanks for all you do. 

–Aliya, Amy, Emily, Soraya, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Oklahoma schools are required to teach the Bible, state superintendent
says," The Washington Post, June 27, 2024
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

2. "Oklahoma Supreme Court shuts down 'unconstitutional' taxpayer-funded
Catholic school," The Independent, June 26, 2024
[link removed]

3. "Outrage as Republican says 1921 Tulsa massacre not motivated by
race," The Guardian, July 8, 2023
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

4. "Louisiana requires Ten Commandments in schools: Where do other states
stand?" USA Today, June 27, 2024
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

You're receiving this petition because we thought it might interest you.
It was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online
petitions. You can [ [link removed] ]start your own petition here.



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